Lazer Cutting

Maybe a laser is overkill.

why would you think that is an over kill. have you ever tried to cut a solar cell in half. They are VERY brittle.

No I haven't....................that's why I said, "maybe", and took the time to look for some possible alternatives.

I've heard that Solyndra has some cheap solar panel cutters on ebay.

Good luck on your quest!

3x6 what (units)? Size is, amazingly enough, a specification.

Do you work for the IRS?

Never tried, generally I just purchase the right size.

On a more serious note, what about using a sharp utility knife and mounting the solar cell between two solid sheets of something to prevent the cell fragmenting at the cut?

Water jet may also be an option but again you may need to mount the solar cell between two solid sheets of something to prevent the cell fragmenting. I doubt a hot knife would work.

What's the application (jewellery perhaps)?

scoring it llike you would glass

Maybe this guy knows: solar cells for cutting

It sounds like your sources are limited, and I don't know how to help, with so little information.

Buy one and try it, I guess. Remember, it's possible to injure yourself, or others with laser beams. Glass may reflect these beams. I'd do some real research before firing this up.

theres danger in everything.......if the op woud give a budget. Water jet come$ to mind. But if not done correcty can shatter also

If you cut them in half in one direction, it cuts the current in half...
In the other direction, it cuts the voltage in half...
Unless it disrupts internal circuitry, in which case it cuts voltage and current to zero.

Which do you want, and why?

tonato. when cutting INBETWEEN the lines it is only cutting the current in half not the voltage. also im just cutting the SINGLE solar cell, not a panel

You might cut thin plastic film with 100mW, but not solar cells.

I am only cutting the solar cells in half Not the solar panel.Also they are not glass, one side is blue most of the time and the other side is gray.It would be like cutting half the thickness of an egg shell. and as brittle. You can't do it with a knife, you can't do it by supporting each half and breaking it. stearing at it wont work either.

It seems like the lazers that they are selling for about 20 dollars are 1000mw and they pop ballons and cut through cd cases the plastic ones.

I'm going to go "out on a limb" here and say you're way over your head, and should do much research before proceeding.

You probably can't hurt yourself too much, except to go blind.

Don't take offense, I insult everyone.

I have a 100mw 650nm line laser. Please be very careful as this power can blind you.

Even reflecting it hurts (I know this first hand). Use protective glasses in the wavelength range of the laser.

Ron

Instead of cutting the solar cell, how about painting over the part you don't want?

(In my earlier post, I must have missed the part about whether cutting between the lines or crosswise.)

I want to use both halves.

Carbide jeweler saw.

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-diamond-mini-cutting-discs-31501.html

Use these cutting wheels with a Dremel type motor tool. I have used them to cut unusual shaped holes in porcelain tile, cut off case hardened socket wrench extensions and other hard things. WEAR EYE PROTECTION. KEEP WHEELS VERY WET OR YOU WILL BURN OFF THE DIAMONDS VERY FAST. DON'T GET THE WATER INSIDE THE DREMEL MOTOR.

Bruce

This is about the strangest thing I've ever encountered on CR4

It's like "I want to cut a 555 chip in half to get 1 and a half fives"

Have you looked at how they work and the matter of connections?

Shirley you are not serious.

His name is conntaxman, not Shirley.

Roger, Roger?

I've cut solar cells in the past by scoring & snapping just as you would with a glass sheet. It was a long time ago so maybe the cells have changed since then.

Your solar cell is probably less than 1mm thick and ridiculously brittle. It's probably been cut once already since the standard shape and size for cell manufacturing is more like 6 x 6, so there are already micro cracks along the long edge which will chip out or propagate across the whole cell as soon as you put any cutting instrument to it.

I suggest you securely bond the cell to a back plate before you try to cut by any method it to prevent the crack propagation, which will kill the cell output.

You can find pretty detailed explanations of solar cell manufacturing online that may give you some ideas. How do you think the Chinese got it?

Where are you working from - city and state please...

maybe a well vented area would be a start !

do you know all the chemicals in the pannels ?

mds sheet works

if you breathe in this crap burning there is no cure to fix you !

plus the toxins you will release ?

#16 and #18 are the traditional ways of cutting silicon wafers, which most solar cells are made from. also a thin sheet of adhesive plastic similar in thickness to saran wrap is applied to them before cutting to keep little piece from flying when/ if they chip. if you put it on the back and cut from the back you can leave it on and not worry about it.

If you have square or rectangular cells you may be able to score them like glass. the round ones are not always build on the crystal lattice in a way that allows breaking on the crystal edge.

Before you cut them make sure you know where you are going to attach your wires after they are cut.

Please let us know how this works out for you.